Candidate letters: State Senate 21 - Matt Schmit

To the Editor:

Nearly 10 months ago on a cold and snowy January night, over 100 supporters and I gathered to launch our campaign for state Senate in District 21.

Since that night we’ve worked tirelessly to get our name and message out to every corner of the district. We’ve been to every parade and festival in the area; we’ve met with city, school and business leaders; and we’ve knocked on over 30,000 doors – and counting!

We’ve always presented voters with a positive, forward-looking choice – and we’ve always focused on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans.

Our plan for making Minnesota work again is pretty simple.

First, let’s balance our budget honestly, once and for all. We’ve spent the past 10 years using shifts, gimmicks and games to deal with a string of budget deficits. Let’s not waste the next 10 years doing the same. We can’t keep kicking the can forward on our tough decisions.

Second, no more passing the buck down to the local level. Too much of Minnesota’s budget burden has been shifted to our cities and schools – and property tax payers are feeling the pinch. The homestead property tax credit, local government aid, and equalized state education funding were put in place to strengthen small towns and schools – but this Legislature decided to pass its problems down to local property tax payers.

This is no way to grow our small-town economies. This is simply wrong.

Third, we need problem solvers in St. Paul willing to compromise. Neither party has all the answers – but there sure are a lot of senators in both parties who, at the end of the day, simply vote the party line. We can’t be afraid to stand up to pressures from political parties and interest groups. We need to do what’s right.

Above all, we need to put people ahead of politics. We need leaders who will say what they mean and mean what they say – not more politicians who will say or do anything to win an election.

We’re on the verge of doing something very special – winning the right way through a positive campaign focused on the issues and based upon the facts. Please join us – and let’s make Minnesota work again. I ask for your vote on Nov. 6.

Matt Schmit

Red Wing

Matt Schmit is the Democratic candidate for Minnesota Senate District 21.

Tags: opinion, letters